Page 29 - Movers, Shapers, and Everything in Between: Influencers of the International Student Experience
P. 29
To the author's knowledge, no large-scale studies have explored research questions 1-5. Likewise, no published studies have focused on questions 6-7.
methodS
This section provides a summary of the samples, procedures, research instruments, and statistical analyzes used in four studies. Chapters 2-5 present the studies and describe the methodology of each study in more detail.
This thesis uses a mixed methods approach to examine the research questions. The studies use subjective measurement tools such as self- report surveys and semi-structured interviews to examine subjects’ perceptions. This approach is well suited for examining psychometric variables that may be conceptualized differently by individuals (Elasy & Gaddy, 1998), such as academic experience, satisfaction with support services, and the impact of the pandemic on academic experience.
Survey Instruments
The first three studies (presented in Chapters 2, 3, and 4) use self- reported satisfaction of international students to examine their different experiences. These studies use the International Student Barometer (ISB) to measure satisfaction with various aspects of the student experience. The ISB includes a series of quantitative questions about teaching and learning, life, and support services at the university. Students are asked to indicate their opinions on a 4- or 5-point scale. The ISB also used to obtain students’ written feedback on the topics covered in the survey.
The fourth study (presented in Chapter 5) uses a semi-structured interview instrument to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the academic experience at international branch campuses and the relationship between IBCs and home campuses. The interview instrument includes questions about IBC Context and Operations, the Academic Experience at the IBC, and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Data were coded and analyzed for themes that provided insight into the research questions.
1
General Introduction
27
